Benefits versus risks of nicotine replacement treatment in high risk patients

 Cigarette smokingNicotine replacement
Exposure

  • Nicotine: rapid delivery high doses

  • Carbon monoxide

  • 4000 other chemicals

  • Nicotine: slow delivery low-moderate doses

Risks

  • Well established

    • – acute myocardial infarction

    • – sudden death

    • – reproductive disorders

  • Possible

    • – haemodynamic aggravation of myocardial ischaemia (no increased thrombosis)

    • – aggravation of utero-placental

    • – ischaemia

Benefits

  • None

  • Smoking cessation

  • Smoking fewer cigarettes